Inflatable life preserver



A. KOL BERG;

INFLATABLE LIFE PRESERVER. APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 8. 1921.

1,419,??29 Patented June 13,1922,

AIbErT Kulherg ALBERT KOLBERG, F SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN.

INFLATABLE LIFE PBESERVER,

Application filed November 8, 1921.

To all 1071-0121 it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT Konnnno, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Sheboygan, in the county of Sheboygan and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inflatable Life Preservers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a. full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention is an improvement in inflatable lite preservers, and has for its object the provision of a device fitting about the chest and shoulders of a swimmer, and conforming to the body in such manner as not to impede the movement of the arms.

A defect of the inflated devices hitherto used is that there is not a proper distribution of air to preserve the proper balance of the body in the water, and, at the same time, properly facilitate the movement of the arms f the wearer.

An important object of my device is the provision of bulges that will obviate this defect. lVhile hitherto devices have been used provided with stuiied projection tending to maintain a certain balance, yet in inflatable garments, bulges, properly proportloned to permit the free movement of a swimmers body through the water and when resting to maintain him in the proper posi tion, have not been provided.

Other objects will appear as the description. proceeds.

in the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of my device, and

Figure 2 shows a cross section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

A. member conforms substantially to the dimensions of the body and terminates at the waist 11 where it is made integral with outer member 12, provided with a valve 13 for connection with a hose or operation by the lips to inflate the device. These members are united at 14 to form arm holes, and

specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented June 13, 1922.

Serial No. 513,245.

shoulder straps 15 are integral therewith and formed of the two layers of material suitably affixed to each other. Shoulderstraps 15 are not inflated. Outer member 12 is provided with a projection 16 of relatively large dimensions positioned below the neck of the wearer and between the shoulders and a projection 17 indicated immediately beneath the chin of the wearer and of relatively small dimensions.

The object 01'': the construction to give a slightly greater buoyancy to the back of the garment and to make the portions adjacent the shoulders especially buoyant to preserve the swimmer in an erect position.

Projection 1G is positioned somewhat above projection 1'? as free movement of the chin and neck is desirable. The location 01". projection 17 is such as to permit a swimmer to move forward rapidly in the water. As projection 16 is out of the water in the forward motion of the swimmer, it does not offer any resistance to his progress. Portions 20 immediately below the arms of the swimmer conform to the outline of the body so as not to impede the motion of the arms.

I claim:

In an inflated life preserver, an inner member conforming to the dimensions of the chest, an outer member united at the waist to the inner member spar-ed there'fron'i above the waist, cou'lorn'iing to the outline of the body under the arms, a relatively large projection on said outer member below the neck and between the shoulders, a smaller proj ect-ion on said outer member immediately below the chin oi the wearer, and uninflated shoulder straps formed of united extensions of said members.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Sheboygan, in the county of Sheboygan and State of lVisconsin.

ALBERT KOLBERG. 

